Heartland Community Foundation Awards $141,627 in Grants to Local Organizations

HAYS, Kan.— The Heartland Community Foundation recently awarded $141,627.51 to local organizations in Ellis, Rooks, and Trego County during our fall/winter grant cycle. In total, the community foundation helped fund 39 projects -- including 14 that were fully funded, 22 that were partially funded, and three that were awarded as surprise grants.

Grant dollars were awarded from the foundation’s permanent endowed funds, including the Ellis, Rooks, and Trego County Legacy Funds – our largest granting funds. As these funds grow with time, patience, continued investment, and donor generosity, the Heartland Community Foundation will be able to grant even more and continue to make a lasting impact in the region.

In Ellis County, $49,368.01 was distributed to these organizations:

• $1,571 to Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas for a new freezer for the organization’s food distribution program
• $2,528.53 to the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance for AEDs for the Hays Cold Weather Shelter
• $1,785 to the High Plains Mental Center for suicide prevention training and certification for staff members in the education and outreach department
• $2,320 to the Railroad Museum of Ellis for upgrades to the RRM Aerotrain Track
• $8,000 to the Victoria Community Coalition for office furniture for Phase 1 and architecture plans for Phase 2 of St. John’s Place
• $2,500 for St. Joseph Parish Hays for AEDs
• $1,500 to Ellis USD 388 Yearbook for a new camera lens
• $2,000 to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church for the Feeding Hays initiative
• $1,000 to the Ellis County Historical Society for a Summer 2025 special exhibit
• $500 to Celebration Community Church for Night to Shine
• $5,000 to the Community Foundation of Ellis for the Creekside Pavilion Project
• $2,040 to First Call for Help of Ellis County for carts for the Backpacks for Kids program
• $1,600 to Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Ellis County for marketing materials to promote mentorship
• $2,500 to Fort Hays Tech | North Central for campus AEDs
• $1,881.95 to USD 489 Hays High School Band for marching tenor replacement
• $3,000 to the Ellis Recreation Commission for new bleachers for Playworld Park
• $8,000 to USD 432 Victoria for new bleachers for Victoria Elementary gymnasium
• $254.04 to USD 432 Victoria for a new preschool table
• $500 to USD 489 Wilson Elementary School for books for the book vending machine

In Rooks County, $61,481.00 was distributed to these organizations:

• $500 to Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas for a new freezer for their meal distribution program
• $7,081 to Plainville Community Foundation for “From the Ground Up – Plainville Marketing Campaign”
• $10,000 to Rooks County for new drone and software to be used by the Rooks County Emergency Management, Rooks County Sherrif’s Dept. and neighboring communities in times of disaster
• $7,000 to the City of Stockton for pour-in-place surfacing at the city park
• $1,800 to Damar Community Foundation toward the park expansion plans, including improvements to the park shelter restrooms
• $4,000 to Rooks County Golf Course for a publicly accessible restroom remodel
• $7,800 to USD 270 Plainville for an Active Floor Mobile Unit and voice amplifiers
• $5,000 to USD 271 Stockton Junior High to elevate student entrepreneurs in a school-based business
• $5,000 to the Plainville Memorial Library for programs expansion
• $7,500 to Plainville Community Foundation for the Plainville City Pickleball Court
• $1,800 to USD 271 Stockton to send the junior high student council to a leadership conference in Oklahoma City
• $4000 to USD 269 Palco to aid in becoming an ag-focused district

In Trego County, $30,778.50 was distributed to these organizations. An additional $10,000 was awarded to an organization for a project, but the organization had to turn down the award. The Trego County Youth Action Council awarded $3,000 in December as surprise grants.

• $500 to Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas for a new freezer for their meal distribution program
• $8,000 to Trego County Fair for upgrades to the grandstands/sound system
• $3,700 to Trego Chamber of Commerce for the Buzzard Bash
• $6,328.50 to the City of WaKeeney for the Trego Community General Public Transportation Van for fuel, new tires and marketing
• $6,000 to the Trego County Historical Society for movable walls and storage for the Ag Heritage Building
• $2,000 to USD 208 for cooking utensils and upgrades for the Family and Consumer Science classroom
• $1,250 to USD 208 Band for a new drum set
• $1,000 to the Kelly Plaza Project from the Trego Youth Action Council
• $1,000 to the WaKeeney Food Pantry from the Trego Youth Action Council
• $1,000 to The Well – Center for Hope from the Trego Youth Action Council

This round of grants was made possible by the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, which focuses on improving quality of life throughout the county; the Ellis County, Rooks County, and Trego County Legacy Funds; the Heartland Healthy Living Fund and the Kansas Health Foundation Fund for Heartland Community; Heartland Action Fund; and the Rooks County Disaster Relief Fund.

The foundation’s next grant cycle opens March 15, with online applications due May 15, 2025.

For more information, please visit www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org or email heartland@gscf.org.

About Heartland Community Foundation

Since 2007, Heartland Community Foundation has been connecting donors with philanthropic causes they love. As an affiliate of the Greater Salina Community Foundation, HCF is proud to serve the communities and residents of Ellis, Rooks and Trego Counties. Dedicated to improving the quality of life in the region, HCF supports initiatives in various areas, including education, health care, youth, community development, and more. By engaging local donors, nonprofits, and community members, the Heartland Community Foundation strives to create a vibrant and thriving Heartland community. For more information, visit heartlandcommunityfoundation.org.